Australia's student visa in 2026: what has changed and what it means for you

Australia still welcomes international students, but it now manages their numbers more actively than before. For Indian applicants, the practical effect is that the quality of your file matters more than ever: a clear reason for your course, genuine funds, a suitable English score and an education provider that is within its allocation.

From 1 July 2025 the base application charge for a Student visa (subclass 500) rose to AUD 2,000. Families should budget for it along with health checks, biometrics and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is compulsory for the length of your visa.

To show financial capacity, you need evidence of funds for your first year of tuition, travel and living costs. The annual living cost figure set by the Department of Home Affairs is AUD 29,710 for a single student. Some applicants can instead show a minimum annual income of a parent or partner. Officers look closely at where money came from, so large recent deposits need a clear explanation.

Since March 2024 the old Genuine Temporary Entrant statement has been replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. Instead of an essay, you answer targeted questions in the visa form about your circumstances, your course choice, how it relates to your past study or work, and what it will do for your future.

• Explain why this course at this provider, not just why Australia.
• Link the course to your previous study or work, and explain any gaps honestly.
• Show that you understand the costs and have the funds.
• Keep answers specific and in your own words; generic or copied answers are easy to spot.

The government sets a National Planning Level (NPL) for new international student commencements each year. For 2026 it is 295,000, which is 25,000 more than 2025. Each university and provider receives an indicative share.

Ministerial Direction 115, in force since 14 November 2025, tells visa officers how to prioritise applications. Providers that stay within their allocation get higher priority. Once a provider approaches its share, applications for that provider may be processed more slowly. This is why your counsellor may suggest applying early or considering more than one provider.

The minimum English score for a student visa was raised in 2024, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) also requires a higher score than before. Your course may ask for more than the visa minimum. Check the current test and score list on the Home Affairs website, and remember that universities set their own, often higher, entry scores.

Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. After graduation, the Temporary Graduate visa gives bachelor's and coursework master's graduates generally up to two years of work rights, and research graduates longer, with extra time possible for study in regional areas. The upper age limit for most applicants is now 35.

Onshore switching has also been restricted: people on visitor visas and Temporary Graduate visas can no longer apply for a student visa from inside Australia.

• Start early, especially for February intakes, so your application is lodged while your provider still has capacity.
• Choose a course that makes sense for your background; unrelated or lower-level study is a common reason for refusal.
• Keep your funds stable for several months before applying and document the source of any large sums.
• Aim for an English score comfortably above the minimum.
• Have your visa file checked by a second person before submission. At Moksh, a senior counsellor reviews every file.